Chris O'Grady: Our future is promising

Chris O’Grady is adamant that Dale are in great shape for the man who succeeds Keith Hill as manager. The striker was a central figure in the club’s promotion from League Two 12 months ago, and feels the potential is there for even more progress. Dale chairman Chris Dunphy and his board have picked and interviewed seven candidates to replace Hill, who left to join Barnsley last week.

Chris O’Grady is adamant that Dale are in great shape for the man who succeeds Keith Hill as manager. The striker was a central figure in the club’s promotion from League Two 12 months ago, and feels the potential is there for even more progress.

Dale chairman Chris Dunphy and his board have picked and interviewed seven candidates to replace Hill, who left to join Barnsley last week.

Three are expected to be invited back for a second interview within the next few days, with Dunphy looking to have a new man in place next week.

O’Grady felt it was inevitable Hill and his assistant Dave Flitcroft would start to get offers from clubs in higher divisions.

But the 25-year-old, who was Dale’s 22-goal top scorer during the League Two promotion campaign, sees no reason why the club cannot keep the momentum going under new management.

He said: "The club is in good shape for the next manager. We’ve still got the bulk of the squad that got us to ninth place, so the quality is there to build on, and we’re in good financial shape.

"I can see why it would be an attractive job, and I know the chairman has said that the standard of applicants has been high.

"So there’s every reason to be optimistic. The mood at the club is positive, because we’ve just come off the back of a very good season.

"Without setting targets and saying that we’re going to aim for this or that, the ambition definitely has to be to improve next season.

"I think it would be wrong to start saying that we’re going to aim for the play-offs or anything like that, because if you set your sights too high, you can end up snatching at them and falling flat."

O’Grady followed all the twists and turns of Hill’s final week as Dale boss, which started with a public rejection of the Barnsley post, followed by a change of heart and a further round of talks before the Spotland exit was confirmed.

The striker said: "I saw all the stories, and there was a stage where it looked as if he was staying, and then it all changed again.

"But I suspect the time was right for him to move on. Everyone weighs up these opportunities when they come along, and there’s always a danger that they can pass you by if you’re not careful.

"He did a good job at Rochdale, and he was a good manager to work for. He always knew how to get what he wanted out of players, and if he didn’t get what he wanted, they you wouldn’t be in the team!

"All players and managers want to prove themselves at a higher level, so I can understand why he’s made the move. I am sure he will be absolutely fine."